SHREWSBURY, England (Interstat) — Two struggling League Two sides seeking to reverse dismal form will meet Thursday when Shrewsbury Town hosts Bristol Rovers at New Meadow to open the 2026 calendar year.

The matchup pairs clubs mired in lengthy winless streaks, with the projected outcome pointing toward a share of the points. Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 1-1 draw.

Shrewsbury Town (1-6-3 in last 10 league matches) enters on a four-game skid across all competitions. The Shrews have not won since a 1-0 victory at Newport County on Nov. 15. Their most recent outing was a 1-0 defeat at Grimsby Town on Monday. Home form has offered little refuge, with just one win in their last five at New Meadow.

Bristol Rovers’ plight is more severe, having failed to secure a victory in any of their last 11 matches across all competitions (0-2-9). The Gas are in a dire defensive stretch, having conceded three or more goals in six of those eleven games. They are coming off a 2-0 home loss to Barnet on Monday and have been shut out in five of their last six contests.

The historical context of this fixture adds another layer, as it is a rare league meeting between the clubs separated by nearly 100 miles. Both will view this as a critical opportunity to halt their slides before demanding January schedules.

Following this contest, Shrewsbury Town faces a quick turnaround with a trip to Salford City on Sunday. Bristol Rovers also plays Sunday, traveling to face Barrow.

The League Two table shows both teams in need of a positive result to distance themselves from the relegation zone. With both attacks sputtering – Shrewsbury has scored more than once just twice in ten games, while Bristol Rovers has been blanked seven times in eleven – defensive solidity will be at a premium.

Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. local time at New Meadow. The game will be broadcast locally on BBC Radio Shropshire and BBC Radio Bristol.